#talk about relatable sleep token lyrics

[a-s-levynn]

"Too many swallowed keys / Will make you bleed internally someday" A Series of Small Offerings - III/5 - day26

#a series of small offerings #sleep token fanart #look there was an idea.. it's uncertain how good it was but it was there #remember how i said i probably not gonna use colour again? yeah about that.. #but it made sense here #shading wise i absolutely wanted to go for someting completely flat to let the red pop even more #and i wanted to go quite literal on this line because this is probably one of my favourites of the 'not so subtle metaphors' in ST lyrics #like.. you know #when you pack shit up? when something that hurts you bad you just take it. put it in a proverbial box. lock it and basically swallow it #so you don't have to deal with it.. you are fine so you can go on? and after a while there is just far too much? #and it just festers and hurts and gets worse by the minute #yeah.. #talk about relatable sleep token lyrics #sleep token #vessel #vessel i #vessel fanart #vessel sleep token #sleep token vessel #sleep token band #sleeptoken #levynn tries to draw

[tryhardgwen]

omg my first platonic fic

this is a platonic showmaker & chovy (& faker) runeterra au with proplayers as league of legends champions (kindred). i used a lot of league of legends canonical lore and then spun it with my own ideas :]

idk how tumblr works again but i realize I can do a lot more long form messages here so I will probably use this blog to put my thought process about writing fics? i will put that below, but it has spoilers so if u wanna check it out probably read the fic first !!

named after the sleep token song:

i chose this song to name it after this not only because the obvious kindred relation with "the eyes of the wolf / the mouth of the lamb" but also because of the other lyrics!

"for so long I have waited / so long that I almost became / just a stoic statue fit for nobody" is very much the grey man coded.

"the vicious cycle was over the moment you smiled at me" would talk about the creation of the kindred, and lamb and wolf. they are each others escape.

"i know i know the way that it goes / you get what you give / you reap what you sow" well... kindred. they give death, and... ok imma stfu.

"and just like the rain / you cast the dust into nothing / and wash out the salt from my hands / so touch me again /i feel my shadow dissolving / will you cleanse me with pleasure?" i think speaks to the relationship between lamb and wolf again.

"nobody can say for certain / if maybe it's all just a game / when I open my eyes to the future / I can hear you say my name" is what I perceive to be the kindred and the grey man's relationship. :>

in the end notes i vaguely touch on the idea of the "LCK Mid" which I think is one of thee most interesting dynamics in lolesports. I've been wanting to write plat fics for a while to sort of explore. in my eyes the holy trinity of the lck mid would be faker, chovy, and showmaker. man I love them. also my grammarly keeps autocorrecting showmaker to shoemaker and its so annoying lmao.

but anyway they r SO INTERESTING! in this fic i tried to include a lot of parallels, from how showmaker as lamb knows more than chovy as wolf—because chovy hasn't won anything internationally unlike showmaker has. chovy's more hungry, because he hasn't won a world championship yet. not to mention their relationship with faker—each having a diff specialization and aspect of their gameplay. showmaker has said many times about how he doesn't want to be the next faker so i made him despise the grey man here. with faker as the grey man i again use the whole "alone at the top" trope because... oh my god I'm a sucker for that. he's got everything, but everyone hates him, and he is lonely. plus my ending + the cyclic nature of the world/of the esports... faker will always be there. it will always come back to him. there will be other midlaners, but its always faker at the end, or so it seems.

anyway! i had a lot of fun writing this fic. it was very challenging and out of my comfort zone because it was platonic and abt people I haven't written about before, and because its a lot more... abstract? it relies on parallelism and reading between the lines. idk. my brain is dumb. i am also dumb. i just vomit words on a google doc and pray for the best.

if anyone has more questions u can ask here on tumblr or on retrospring. please be nice bc again tumblr scares me. i am easily scared.

#lolrpf #lck fic #lck au #i broke my brain writing this i fear #dont even read this go read the kindred short stories instead #Spotify

[kaddyssammlung]

SH - related Sleep Token lyrics part 2

Part 1

TW: SH ( I get graphic sometimes)

Let me throw in

The Way That You Were

before I forget it.

“And I am so ready to tear that knife from what once would have been dead fingers lying blue against the floor”

This makes me tear up because I feel like someone said this to him once.

I got similar things thrown at me.

That misconception that you should just stop hurting yourself and then everything is okay again. Yeah sure. Of course you can't just stop. It's an unhealthy coping mechanism. One that was established over many years. You don't just stop even if you want to.

Even when someone does take that knife away from you then you will find other ways to hurt yourself. I had liquor bottles taken away from me. That did not help.

I was aware of what I was doing and how I was hurting everyone around me with it but I could not stop. It took me years to really be able to stop.

“Come on, tear off the bandage … will you show me the damage”

This is such a painful song!

Well Vessel....I like hiding. I really do and no I don't feel like tearing off bandages.

There was a time where I used to date a lot. I do have visible scars on my left forearm but they are kind of thin and I can hide them. But when you meet someone new I always think about what to do. And then when it came to getting undressed and sleeping with someone it was even more weird because I could not hide anymore. It's kind of embarrassing when you get undressed and someone looks at you and is like “oh....so those are the rest of your scars then....?! Well.....okay.....” Not really. That and the question “Can I touch them....?” No! But it will happen because when you sleep with someone you end up touching them everywhere more or less, anyway.

(I'm sobbing right now....I want to mention this because it's still rare for me to even be able to cry)

Atlantic

“bandage up the trenches”

Atlantic is just so damn sad, too. Idk what to write. I mean you know that you should go to a medical professional when it comes to taking care of your wounds...sometimes when they are deep. I should have done that. But I did not. It did not heal well. So....idk what to say.

“how it's a pain they know they don't understand”

Okay. So yes he means this probably in a different way but you can also see this in relation to self-harm. It's really hard to explain all of this someone. I can understand when someone just does not understand or can not relate to these feelings.

“wash away the blood on my hands”

Reminds me of feeling guilty. That or actual blood.

Hypnosis

“sink, sink your teeth split my skin, no just make me bleed”

Again this feeling of being in so much emotional pain that you just want it taken away from you. Even if that means that physical pain is inflicted on you.

Like That

“creating a slow dissection”

So...idk what to do with this. I don't think I have to lay this out for you. You kind of get it. Not that I'm not capable to write down gross details about self-harm but I don't want to trigger myself by just writing about this.

And also the “talking with braces / razors” on your tongue because I'm sure that he sings braces and not razors. I mean even if it was razors...I mean he mentions blade in Say That You Will and razor would just fit to the blade. Right?!

The Love You Want

“Too many swallowed keys will make you bleed internally someday”

Well...bleed...again. Just that.

Fall For Me

“And through echoing futures are the buckling sutures that hold shut the wounds of the past”

This is really graphic. I'm just realizing this.

Makes me think about some scars that I have that just stick out in a really strange way. When I wear really tight jeans and you know what to look for then you can see those scars even through my pants. They just stick out in such a weird way.

Other than that. The image this creates “hold shut the wounds”. Yes that's what they do. But that does not mean that you are healed or that it stopped hurting.

Distraction

“I can tell I'm falling further, again”

That damn feeling of slipping away. Drifting into addiction, aware of what's going on but unable to stop yourself from falling.

“I am driven to distraction”

I get that. But it does not help to “distract” yourself. It backfires. I know that from experience.

“it's too late for me”

No, it's not!

Descending

“create, release”

Just reminds me of what self-harm urges feel like. Like I said, for me it's a feeling of wanting to peel of my skin. And then when you give into those craving it feels like a release. But that does not last very long.

“she just don't feel the same”

Makes me think about reasons for self-harm.

For me it was mostly to punish myself or to fill the big void. The emptiness that comes along with BPD or that feeling of being dead inside. Or when I was so dissociated that I did not know if I was still alive or not. I wanted to see blood as a reminder that I'm still here.

High Water

“of what all of these scars on my arms are for”

I don't think this needs anything.

“if I can hold myself together”

It's a feeling that I had often or still have every now and then. “Just hold yourself together”....easier said then done sometimes.

“wash me clean before I pull myself beneath the waves”

To me this is about a feeling of giving into your cravings and just doing it again. I like the image of “keeping your head above water” when it comes to addiction cravings / urges. And when it gets to much you “pull yourself beneath the waves” and do it again. And “wash me clean” because you feel guilty for giving in again.

“when the mouth of infinity buries its teeth in me I'll smile through the agony for you”

I still don't get this. But it fits the topic.

“I can't hold myself together”

I get that but Vessel you are still here and so am I. Despite having felt like that very often.

Missing Limbs

“'Cause it still makes my blood run cold”

Again...blood.

“and I live like I've got missing limbs for you”

Tear my arms off.....tear my body and then missing limbs.

#sleep token #sleep token lyrics #tw sh #I feel like I need to say this: I'm talking about my past...I'm doing okay

[moonchild-in-blue]

Create ; Release - A Sleep Token illustration project

I've talked a bit about this art project before, but now that I'm close to finish painting the 1st round, I can finally make a Serious Master Post about it (to make it easier to find and because I need to have everything neatly organised or else I die).

Create ; Release is a series of painted illustrations for each Sleep Token album, where each song will have its own individual painting based on my favourite lyrics, tied together by a colour palette. They won't necessarily relate to the ST lore, even though there will be some elements included. I'm going for a bit more abstract/conceptual approach, so to speak.

I'm starting with This Place because 1) it's been on my mind a lot recently; 2) for some reason the colour blue has been incredibly inspiring for me (Darya's Blue Period era); 3) I just felt like it 💙

The original plan is to make the 3 albums, but I might expand to include the EPs and 2 singles. This project has been a lot a bit taxing and time-consuming, but incredibly fun and satisfying to make!

[Because I know myself, I'll hold off posting the final illustrations until I've had the whole album scanned and ready. That way, I'll make sure to actually finish it, and you won't wait ages between songs (there will be however a few weeks of waiting time between albums, to allow myself time to have them all pretty and ready!) I will be sharing a few sneak-peeks and what-not with you while creating them 😘]

Links and Tags (will update as we go):

All posts will be tagged as #create;release

Sundowning

Tag -> #create;release sun

This Place Will Become Your Tomb

Tag -> #create;release tpwbyt

Atlantic | Hypnosis | Mine | Like That | The Love You Want | Fall For Me | Alkaline | Distraction | Descending | Telomeres | High Water | Missing Limbs

Take Me Back To Eden

Tag -> #create;release tmbte

Bonus:

Sneak-Peeks / Sketches

Tag -> #create;release bts

One (tbd)

Two (tbd)

Jaws / TWTYW (tbd)

If this is something you're interested in keeping up with, or if you're from the future and are going through this because you're sooo in love with my art and me (kidding), a big massive THANK YOU from the depths of my heart 🥺.

Your support and encouragement mean the world to me! 🌙💙✨

#i know this is A Lot but it's nicely organised #i hope i can start posting the tpwbyt ones before Christmas #if not then look forward to January! #sleep token #sleep token fanart #create;release masterpost #create;release #create;release sun #create;release tpwbyt #create;release tmbte

[barelyeversomewhere]

Analysing Sleep Token’s Take Aim from the perspective of religious trauma

I’ve had these thoughts on my mind for some time and I would like to share them. Note that I’m aware that this is most likely not the meaning intended by the band, it’s just my silly little interpretation as your local religiously traumatised person.

So first up, what instantly came to mind when I first heard the song was that the chorus resembles a worship song. A certain sense of nostalgia in the melody, simple lyrics so most people will remember the lyrics after one listen.

Since the rest of the song doesn’t really share similarities with worship music that much I will not dive deeper into this for now.

Let’s talk lyrics. (I will not take apart every line, just those that stand out to me).

“Wait, won’t you wait for me?”

To me, this sounds like such an innocent, yet confused question. The speaker finds themselves in a situation where they feel left behind by God and cannot quite comprehend how that could happen as they were promised eternal love and someone who cares for them at all times.

“How you love like weapons kill.”

If church is good at one thing, it is convincing believers that everything that happens is a sign of God’s love. Looking at this lyric it feels safe to say that something bad has happened in the speaker’s life that they now try to squeeze in the box labeled as God’s love. Yet, they cannot push away the feeling of sadness, anger, grief, whatever it might be.

“So take aim at me for once.”

Church often tries to portray a perfect life to it’s members, so that they will stay in church as they believe this is the life they will eventually have. This ideal life is seen as a gift from God. The speaker sees those people who seem to be so blessed and begs God to finally receive some of those blessings themselves.

“Just take aim, break me apart, love.”

In this lyric, the speaker seems fairly aware that their own faith might be going too far, yet they are willing to accept that. In order to receive the blessings that everyone around them seems to get, they are willing to sacrifice their own well being.

“Call, won’t you call out my name?”

The core believe of christianity is that Jesus died for the sins of every single person. Church often emphasises how he specifically thought of you as an individual as he died on the cross and how God is waiting for specifically you to approach him so he can guide your life down the right path. The speaker tries everything to receive this guidance but cannot seem to do it right. They beg God to call out their name, so they can have this personal relationship with him, that church keeps preaching about.

“And you make me hate myself, make my tear my body, make me yearn for your embrace.”

The speaker’s desperation is growing so they basically “yell” at God about how miserable they feel in trying to build a relationship with him. They start to hate parts of themselves as they start to view them as sinful and they feel utterly alone, desperate for God’s attention.

“You led me on when the moment is perfect.”

Religion seems to work particularly well on people with complicated life paths since they are often looking for a clear direction in life. Assumingly, something happened in the speaker’s life that made them more prone to the christian faith. Now they accuse either God or the church of abusing their vulnerability in order to make them a believer, only to let them down shortly after.

“And you know, I’ll be yours, just want to be worth it.”

In their desperation for a better life, the speaker is willing to give everything to God. However, they fear that they might not be good enough to be seen by him yet, so they promise him to do better in the future, hoping this will finally give them a spark of blessing in their life.

In conclusion, this song is very relatable to me as it reminds me of myself when I started deconstructing my faith and it takes me apart entirely everytime I listen to it. The speaker seems so hurt in their desperation for the great life that was promised to them once they follow God.

So now it’s official, Take Aim is for the religiously traumatised girlies!

Remember that you are worth everything and more than good enough, regardless of what church wants you to believe. <3

#sleep token #vessel #take aim #religious trauma #analysing song lyrics #lyrics #sundowning #i wrote this in my notes app please dont judge lmao

[ancientbygone]

intro post

Copper, 18 years old, it/its pronouns (he/him acceptable; no they/them). made this side blog as a contained space for my own Sleep Token art and ramblings and such first and foremost, as well as others' Sleep Token posts i like.

DNI:

the basics (racist/queerphobic/etc)

unmasking the band members

RPF supporters/creators

proshippers

strictly NSFW blogs (if it's just occasional NSFW content that's chill)

taglist & more info under the cut:

notes:

DO NOT REPOST MY ART. if you wanna use it for non-commercial means, ask for permission & if allowed, credit me when used. if you wanna use it for commercial means, fuck right off.

my native language isn't english. if i fuck it up i fuck it up.

i do not ship the band members themselves or their stage personas and i find it very icky in general (for myself). i know i listed RPF in my dni but i feel the need to elaborate that it applies to their stage presence, too.

adding onto the previous point, whenever i talk about the vessels in terms of lore/adjacent, i am talking about them as characters. always. this blog is not for speculating on their private lives, and if you do so, you will be blocked.

i'd prefer not to discuss any of the sexual lyrics for my own comfort. i know they exist, i just like to forget (/hj). same with Are You Really Okay, also for my own comfort.

even if i might tag my writing as "theories", they aren't necessarily intended as such. if anything, i'm telling a story of my own based on the lyrics. any hostility in comments on my writing will result in a block; same thing with "this wasn't intended in the lyrics" and stuff like that.

adding onto the previous point (x2), a lot of the time i interpret the lyrics in tandem with my personal life experiences. it will absolutely get a little too real here. if the subject matter is too heavy, it will be tagged with #[subject] and #[subject] tw.

let me know if you want/need me to tag anything specific! either in an ask or in my DMs. don't hesitate to reach out about that :]

in addition to everything, i will be posting about my Sleep Token D&D AU, which is as simple as it sounds and also not at all. it's also very removed from my "main canon" or most of the band IRL, so it's really just me (& @mapleborealis !) fucking around. also, unlike the "main canon", they are a polycule and all kiss with tongue /hj

blog tags (WIP):

organization:

#bygone art - my own art

#bygone talks - my ramblings & the more disconnected bits of writing/theorizing

#bygone writes - the more coherent writing/theorizing

#bygone silly - my memes

#bygone shows - any post of mine related to a personal Sleep Token ritual experience (pics, rambling, etc)

#bygone beloved - a post i particularly like and want to archive, mine or otherwise

#bygone off topic - things vaguely related to sleep token or not related at all

#others' [___] - a post of any variety listed above, just made by someone else

d&d au:

#sleep token dnd and #dnd au - general au tags

#dnd au vessel/ii/iii/iv/etc. - character-specific d&d au posts

little clarifying moments:

#espera - tag for vesselettes (hopefully no maskless posts; won't call them vesselettes either)

#sleep token him - separate tag for whatever Vessel and Sleep were pre-Sundowning. more on that later.

#bygone talks #sleep token #sleep token worship #i truly hope i can keep this sideblog going #unlike my other ones #i do have plenty to talk about though so it should be fine for a while lol

[fivewholeminutes]

introductions and some info

i'm on this website for more than a decade and this is the first time i've made a themed blog cause idk. i'm still terrified of interacting with anyone (we're all anonymous here, WHY AM I ANXIOUS), but the need to scream about sleep token is stronger. i am going to be extremely awkward if you decide to interact with me, sorry in advance, believe me, i am trying

name's alex, i'm polish and uuuh. i go by she/her, but i'm not picky.

i'm here mostly for lyrics analysis/theories and memes! and reblogging cool sacred moments and fanart and general yelling about the band i guess i've got comfortable enough to post my art here too so you may see something from time to time

if you put your selfies in the band tag just to have more views, i will block you, i don't have patience for that (if it's band-related, like a halloween make-up or sth, it's all fine!!!)

if you spam the band tag with anything not-band related, i may block you, cause i'm a tired senior citizen that yells at a cloud (that goes for some screenshots from games with just lyrics added, fanfiction about ships i don't care for etc. etc.)

same goes for spoiling the band's identities, obviously

not a fan of fanfiction/headcanons about real people either! (not gonna block blogs for that, only tags)

and of course, if you're a terf or other kind of a twat, you get a block too as soon as i realise you're trash <3

i'm ace, so thirsting about the band usually makes me uncomfortable (i'm not against it!! that would be hypocritical, considering one of their main topics is sex. it's just, you know. an ace thing. being ok with sex as a concept, but not when it's being said online about real people. hard to explain that, sorry. then again sometimes i don't mind some tits out jokes etc., depends on a mood)

main acc is @hajstra. i don't talk there much

uhhh, that's all, thank you

oh btw, i forgot to add: i don't have any tagging system, cause i'm a messy and chaotic person and any attempts at changing that went to shit. if you want me to tag something, please do not hesitate to contact me! there are two tags that i'm quite consistent with tho:

#sleep token't (courtesy of @moonchild-in-blue's amazing idea for a tag for non-ST related posts)

and my art tag, #alex vs the mortifying ordeal of having her art perceived

(which is a terribly long bitch, come to think of it, but i'm too lazy to change it now tbh)

#pinned

[scarlet-and-ultraviolet]

Wanted to talk a little about the song Atlantic by Sleep Token.

Atlantic is my all time favourite song. If you haven't heard it yet, or even if you have, I absolutely recommend you take the time to listen. But actively listen to it, at least once. Don't just put it on in the background. Listen to every word, every instrument, every detail.

My favourite way to listen to this song is in complete darkness with my eyes shut and my headphones on loud. I have never felt this emotionally connected to anyone's music before. Each Sleep Token song is an otherworldly experience but this song in particular gives me chills every single time I listen to it. Even more than Blood Sport, which I also love.

The emotion of Vessel's voice and delivery, the heavy hitting lyrical content, the subtleties of the piano playing, the gentle water sounds all leading up to that massive ending, followed by a delicate outro. Absolute perfection. I don't know if it's because I feel I can relate on a personal level due to events I've experienced in my life - but, as I said, I've never felt this way about music before. Sleep Token are really something special.

#sleep token #sleeptoken #vessel #iii #ii #iv #worship #tpwbyt #tmbte #sundowning #st #worshitposting #atlantic #atlantic sleep token #Youtube

[autisticempathydaemon]

I hope you're still doing these aaaaaa! What song are you fixated on at the moment? What lyric or verse, and why? Aqua Regia by Sleep Token! Specifically the lyrics "my love is an animal call/cutting through the darkness, bouncing off the walls/between teeth on a broken jaw/following a bloodtrail, frothing at the maw" there is just something so VISCERAL about them it really scratches my brain

What is your Enneagram type? Enneagram Type 4 (I can't remember the wing, but I think it's 4w5 aaaaa)

Tell me about your childhood imaginary friend This probably does NOT count, I didn't really have an imaginary friend, but this question just reminded me that I used to be OBSESSED with the movie Labyrinth and used to pretend to be Sarah a LOT

Do you love gargantuan Youtube video essays, and if so, which is your favorite and why? I'm more of a fan of short-form science-y or educational videos, but does a 30 minute one count? I really love the a video essay on Ocarina of Time called "OOT - A Masterclass in Subtext"

What is your go-to way to fall asleep? ASMR for sure (I could probably count on one hand the number of times I have fallen asleep in silence over the last year and a half), but I also really like doing nonogram puzzles before bed - I've conditioned myself to get sleepy when I do them 😅

What is your favourite of Redacted’s audios, and why? I can probably fully recite "A Talk With One of Your Devious Owners" at this point - Not only is the really steady monotone tone of this one super relaxing to me, but I really like James as a character with complex and warring emotions. The cat/mouse vibe that this one introduced is very fun, and I love the way he slyly reveals all of the asset's own cards to them.

What Redacted boy holds no appeal to you, and why? I am so sorry to say it, but Caelum does not spark joy 😭 I think he is very sweet, and I love him as a character, but I have a hard time listening to those ones.

Tell me about that one book/movie/tv show you know all the words to. Oh god, suddenly I've forgotten every movie or TV show I've ever seen in my LIFE. I would say I could recite a good chunk of Elton John's biopic, Rocketman, BUT ALSO I watched Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (the one from 1971) a few days ago and was UNSETTLED by how easily I could recite that one line-by-line.

Which Redacted boy are you platonically attracted to? Like- forget dating, which dude do you want to be your best friend? I would die to be friends with Huxley. I think he would be SO easy to be around and just be yourself with. He also seems like the type of friend to listen to you actively while somebody talks over you or circle back to what you said when nobody heard you. Plus I just know one of his hugs would fix me.

Do you have a go-to thing you ramble about when you’re tired, and if so, what is it? mine is also space! I could talk for ages about space. I also have a tendency to get a second wind when I get into bed and I get rambly about whichever latest musical or fandom I'm obsessed with.

Tell me your go-to gas station and drink combo. It has been a MINUTE since I've done this but my favourite gas station snacks were always a bag of salt & vinegar kettle chips + a bottle of Arizona iced tea.

Tell me about your favorite playlist at the moment. I can't tell if this refers to Redacted Playlists or Music, so I'll answer both: I have a Spotify playlist of songs I associate with Geordi, and no matter WHAT mood I'm in, they ALWAYS hit. They are mainly about love and self-image but even the sad ones don't make me feel super sad, just kinda relaxed and seen, I guess? I relate to Geordi a lot. For Redacted playlists, Sadism's Hold is ALWAYS going to be a winner for me. I have thought about Ivan's arc probably more consecutive hours than any other character.

What’s your guilty pleasure media, and why? Definitely ASMR/Boyfriend RP type content. I've been getting more comfortable wearing merch out in the real world and I usually find it easier to just refer to it as "a podcast I'm into" 😅

And whatever else you think tells me about who you are! My favourite colour is yellow, I love thunderstorms (the more thunder/lightning) the better, and I want to absolutely eat my hands when media makes a reference to Icarus or Cannibalism as a love language.

Hmmm… interesting. You are a very interesting person who gave me a lot of interesting information to work with, and I like you a lot. You know who else would like you? Ollie.

The Free Spirit is such a fun type, because it’s all in the name; you’re so unique and alive and all over the place in the best way. Just like he did his Coworker, Ollie would so admire you, would be so in awe that someone as vibrant as you is with him. Yet, he is so good for you. You relating to Geordi makes me think you could use someone steadfast, cheerful, and unwaveringly loyal, and Ollie would definitely be that for you.

You would have such a fun, cozy home, you, Ollie, and Cattywumpus. You love space, he loves Star Trek; I bet he loves watching episodes with you and hearing your passionate diatribes on the stars and sci-fi technology. I could also see you helping him become a musical fan, since he’s such a geek in general; I think he’d really enjoy them. I also love to imagine y’all winding down for bed and him just watching you and your puzzles, confused and awestruck and adoring. (Lord knows I am awestruck; I googled nonograms, and I literally couldn’t figure out what you’re supposed to do after three webpages.)

Song:

"What's easy is right", my mother's advice/ You are the reason I never think twice/ Wherever we go, what glitters is gold/ You'll be my best friend until we grow old/ I had a nightmare (oh)/ But now that I'm not scared

Though I don’t necessarily agree with that mother's advice, I do think it fits since it would be so easy for y’all. I think his easygoing, affable nature along with your shared interests means you’ll not just be a good couple but great friends, and that’s the ticket to a comfy, loving home and life with your cat.

Runner-Ups:

Your love for science and space makes Anton a fun choice for one of your runner-ups; I think he’d have the most fun listening to you infodump in addition to having engineering experience to contribute. Vega is a runner-up based solely on what you said about cannibalism as a love language, because I spend a lot of time around @gingerbreadmonsters and could not associate that trope with anyone else.

note: thank you for waiting ☀️

Read this post and send me an ask if you’d like a match-up of your own! 💌

#redactedasmr #redactedverse #redacted asmr #redactedaudio #redacted audio #redacted #busybee matches

[thatonebjp]

I suck at interpreting themes and deeper meanings into stuff.

Like, my Twitter feed is full of people analyzing the new Sleep Token album, talking about what it means, how it recontextualizes their previous music, how certain lyrics made them feel, or how a song made them cry because it's particular deep or relatable.

And meanwhile I'm just here like "hmm, yes, these words sure sound like they could mean something maybe."

#it's a good album tho #I liked it #the singles are still my favorite songs of the albums so far #but the other songs are probably gonna grow on me #I don't think I'll like them more than Chokehold or Vore #but the title track is growing on me real fast #Sleep Token #Take Me Back To Eden

[a-s-levynn]

"Even if the sky cracks in mourning / And the heavens just won't open up for me" A Series of Small Offerings - II/12 - day20

#a series of small offerings #sleep token fanart #elaboration on this piece further down in the tags because this one may confuse people i think #(also please note that i firmly believe that the from the room below version of this song is the superior one) #(so the art was made with that version in mind because that is the version that lives rent free in my brain for reasons) #i've been thinking so much how to approach this one.. i knew pretty much since i've made the challenge that i will go with this line #specifically because i refuse to hear it as the lyrics sites and spotify tells me to hear it (as it appears in the post) but instead #i don't hear the 'the' in any version of the song i'm sorry that is just not there #so i'm convinced it is 'as the sky cracks in mourning' #(sky cracking-lightning;sky mourning-rain) #which is also exactly how the song feels to me #being a sad wet cat of a person standing bare feet in a strom and just crying 'why i was i so blind to my own hubris' #specifically in relation of finally (and far too late) understanding you fucked up a relationship so bad it still hurts years after #if you've ever felt anything remotely similar you know what i'm talking about #and you get why i refuse it being 'in the morning' instead of 'in mourning' #vessel i #vessel #vessel sleep token #vessel fanart #sleep token band #sleeptoken #levynn tries to draw #sleep token #edit: i don't mean to offend those who stand behind the line being 'in the morning' btw i just don't hear it #and i don't think i'm correct. i'm correct for me. not in your stead. half the lyrics can be heard at least two ways #edit2: appearently i'm actually right about something for a change.. a truly unusual turn of events #see comments for referrence pls #also edited this post to the correct lyrics #but leaving the tags for context 'cause thw original version of the post has been rb-d before editing i think

[elizabethplaid]

“I don’t know what’s got its teeth in me,               but I’m about to bite back in anger”

Yes, it’s once again time to cry to Sleep Token. I’ve just got song “Take Me Back to Eden” on repeat, as I’m hesitant to listen to the whole album just yet. Like, I want to buy my physical copy, listen to the whole thing without other distractions.

Then again, I did listen to all their other music (aside from the piano instrumentals from “One”) before buying the albums. Still, I want to devote all my attention to it.

Near the latter third of the song, I noted some lyrics that sounded like they were from another single/song from this album. People in the comments talked about multiple lyric/motif references to other songs, as well. They also mentioned the bands Periphery and The Dear Hunter are also known for their self-references in songs. (Coheed and Cambria are REALLY good at it, too, imo.)

I’m also delighted to see the related video thumbnails are like, “This one Sleep Token song broke me”, “this song would make anyone cry”, and the usual “damn that’s impressive” and critiques.

#music #sleep token #sleep token (music) #3am is the time to be gutted by music

[kaddyssammlung]

SH - related Sleep Token lyrics Part 1

Let's do this.

To me many things are very obvious and I feel SH is a big theme in all of this so that's the next topic I want to well....what do I want?! Deal with?! Idk.

Lately my mood is very stable and I feel strong enough to deal with this topic.

Obvious TW (you know I get graphic sometimes but with words only)

The Offering

“You've got diamonds for teeth, my love So take a bite of me, just once,”

I'm hung up on this. It's sounds so cool and yet I would like to know how he came up with this. I mean diamonds for teeth....

Other then that it makes me think about having a desire to get hurt by someone. This is something that I didn't really have but I can see why this is. When you are in emotional pain you can reach a point where you try everything to get rid of that pain.

I also get that this has something sexual to it. I mean you know what I mean BDSM stuff.

“This is a given, an offering In your favour, a sacrifice in your name”

Sometimes I ask myself what type of sacrifice he means. I do think about stuff like that a lot sometimes but I'd rather not talk about that.

It makes me think about something very personal. I have someone's name “written” on me. It's barley noticeable anymore but it was the name of my best friend (or rather BPD obsession fave person type of friend). I don't remember what had happened but I ended up cutting her name into my lower abdomen. I was drunk when I did that and I was also very drunk when I told her what I did.

Levitate

“Remember my cracking bones”

I remember one incident where I was so angry that I made a really strange move and ended up punching my floor with my hands. I did hear something crack but I don't remember if something was broken or not. Probably not but my finger looked really weird for a long time and did hurt like hell but it went away and no I did not seek help.

I had no idea how to explain this to someone. My fear of being locked up against my will is very big (we don't really have a 5051 here or something like being sectioned...our rules are not very strict when it comes to certain things but the fear is there and it still can happened or could have happened).

Dark Signs

“The new scars that I didn't ask for”

This a weird one when you really think about it. How does anyone ever ask for scars?! I know that when I do certain things that it will leave scars. I know what they will look like before I even do it. You just know. It depends on the objects that you use and how deep the wound is.

I don't even want to think about what it would be like if this left no scars. I don't have to think about that because it does leave scars.

Idk what to make of this any other then maybe there was an accident that left scars or maybe he actually means metaphorical scars.

Because trauma certainly leaves those.

“tear my arms off”

Each time I hear this I feel a sting in my heart. I just feel this.

I preferred my thighs over my arms though because it's easier to hide the scars there.

Higher

“the blood and the fury takes us a little higher”

I'm sorry Vessel but this a weird one and I don't really get it. Do you like fighting? Or did you just smoke the greens to calm yourself and that's what made you high?!

I don't really like thinking about blood. I'm not grossed out by it but also idk I just don't like thinking about it.

“and we are exhausted by all this pretending we just can't resist the violence”

I often got exhausted by pretending that everything was fine and I took that out on myself. Using self-harm in order to be able to function again. It was only violence against myself. I tell myself that to turn this into something that's okay. But it's not.

Especially when I still went to school I needed that feeling of fresh cuts to make it through the day.

Take Aim

“and you make me hate myself make me tear my body”

It's mostly my ED that me feel like that. I said this before but it belongs in here too: I used to cut when I felt like I had to much to eat. And also I would sometimes gain weight really fast and then I just could not stand looking at myself anymore. I hated my body so much.

“break me apart”

Again that wish to maybe have pain inflicted on you in some way.

Gods

“No more teeth to bite with”

I connect that with getting caught. When my parents found out about my self-harm I was already 18. I had kept this secret for four years. I'm still kind of proud of this. But when you think about it, it does not really help. Of course I continued to hide my struggles with this. Maybe this is one of the reasons why my drinking became more heavily. It left no scars but being drunk is not easy to hide.

“You wanna watch me bleed? 'Cause I bleed so well”

No thank you, Vessel. I believe you.

I put this in here because of the word blood but it's more about relationship dynamics. At least that's how I see this.

“Do you like the way it feels? Like fire from the heavens Carving past the surface into you”

I often felt nothing and even hurting myself did not really change that. But when I did feel and felt like punishing myself and felt what I was doing then I kind of indulged on that burning sensation that it gave me. It was a punishment that I deserved.

“Tearing me asunder beside you”

I just put this in here because it fits the vibe.

Sugar

“We still know how to bleed”

Why does he mention blood or bleeding so often? I was not really aware of that.

This is another weird one. Of course you know how to bleed. I mean I do. We all do. Right?! Let's just leave it at that.

“Addicted to the pain”

Yes, it's an addiction. The way your body can long for stuff like that is kind of impressive but also scary and just feels horrible. It feels like wanting to peel your skin off.

Say That You Will

“Till the sweat turns to blood”

Blood again. I still don't understand this line. The sweat meaning sleeping with someone and then it turns to blood meaning that instead of being nice to each other they start hating each other?! I don't really get it.

I have nothing tied to this.

“Is that a blade in your palm?”

No, Vessel I keep them some other place. I started with scissors that I had in my school bag and then just knives from the kitchen and turned to blades later because I had to buy them and I was a bit scared. Buying blades, band aids and bandages all at once it not really weird at all. No....not at all.

Blood Sport

“Even if the earth breaks like burnt skin”

Right...most humans connect with self-harm certain things. Mostly cutting, I guess. But there are other things such as burning. I never did that. But I did hit myself with a belt that had a buckle on it until my skin would break open. That and I always have quite long fingernails. And they are also really strong. I used to scratch myself or just bury them into my skin.

“I made loving you a blood sport”

Again this reminds me more about relationship dynamics but I can feel that line. My BPD made me do crazy things and self-harm that was related to something that someone else did or did not do was very common.

“You're still my weapon of choosing”

I can feel that. I just feel this.

#sleep token #sleep token worship #sleep token lyrics #tw sh #tw sh related

[thisaintascenereviews]

Album Review by Bradley Christensen Settle Your Scores – Better Luck Tomorrow Record Label: SharpTone Records Release Date: April 13 2018

Settle Your Scores released their debut album, The Wilderness, two years ago, and it was one of my favorite albums of the year. I forget where I put it on my yearend list, but it was on there somewhere, anyway. I had just gotten into easycore, which is the style of pop-punk that takes metalcore breakdowns and harsh vocals and combines it with pop-punk hooks, instrumentation, and lyrics. There’s a booming easycore scene in the underground, and honestly, 2016 was a treasure trove for bands and albums. Bands like Abandoned By Bears, Wired For Havoc, Settle Your Scores, and tons more bands released albums that kicked a lot of ass. As much as I loved The Wilderness, though, its biggest issue was the same one that plagued a lot of bands – it was too generic. I mean, it was really damn good, and I loved every single aspect of it, but it didn’t quite do anything that other bands hadn’t done already, or that weren’t already doing at the same time. What made it stand, though, was how catchy the songs were, how great the vocals were (both singing and screaming), how relatable and personal the lyrics were, as well as how well-written the songs themselves were. They had some great songwriting chops, and I was really curious to how the follow-up would be. The last year, give or take, a lot of easycore bands have been getting signed. Victory Records and SharpTone are the two labels in particular that have been signing these bands. I mean, Victory Records has For The Win, Carousel Kings, and We Were Sharks, whereas SharpTone has Across The Atlantic, Sink The Ship, and Settle Your Scores. I feel like easycore has a shot now, but I listened to the lead single from Settle Your Scores’ sophomore album, as well as label debut, Better Luck Tomorrow. The song was called “Keep Your Chin Up And Your Expectations Down,” and it was a cool song, but it caught me off guard, because the song was more of a straightforward pop-punk track.

I was a bit worried that they would have stripped away the easycore elements of their sound, and became a pop-punk band, which wouldn’t necessarily have totally bothered me, because the song itself was great. The songwriting is still top notch, whether it was for the very pronounced guitar riffs in the track, how catchy it was, or how much vocalist Christian Fisher has improved over the last couple of years. The lyrics were great, too, and it’s not like the band lost their talent, or anything like that, but I was wondering if the whole album would have this very straightforward pop-punk sound that’s still done incredibly well, so I’d be on board, regardless. What’s interesting about this album is that it still caught me off guard, but they didn’t water their sound down whatsoever. What they did instead is make a very diverse, unique, interesting, and well-done easycore album that also has elements of pop-punk and pop-rock. One thing I complain about a lot, or at least I feel like I do, is how repetitive a lot of bands and albums can be, especially in pop-punk / easycore. Every song on a lot of albums tends to sound the same, minus the token acoustic track that appears at the end. This album has it, too, but I’ll be damned if it’s not one of the best acoustic songs I’ve ever heard. If you couldn’t tell, I love Better Luck Tomorrow, and it’s one of the best albums of the year, if not the best, honestly. I’m that into it, folks. It’s an album that doesn’t surprise, only because Settle Your Scores already had a lot of potential with their debut record, but at the same time, I’m shocked that their sophomore album is this advanced and great. There’s a lot to really get into here, and what’s great is that everything has improved tenfold, but it’s not like every element on The Wilderness necessarily needed to improve big time.

The biggest improvements are easily in the forms of Fisher’s vocals and the instrumentation / overall sound. Fisher was a great vocalist on the debut record, and I loved his vocals a lot. He’s one of my favorite easycore vocalists, but hearing him throughout this record, his voice has ultimately shed that “rough” sound that his voice admittedly had a bit on The Wilderness. His voice on this album is very smooth, clean, and crystal clear. It was that way on The Wilderness, don’t get me wrong, but all the rough patches have been smoothed over, if you will. His way around a hook is impeccable, and almost every song on this album (minus a brief instrumental track that appears towards the end of the album) has a massive hook that will get stuck in your head at some point. I have to give credit to songwriter / guitarist / vocalist Ricky Uhlenbrock. If I’m not mistaken, Uhlenbrock writes pretty much all the music, and similar to a lot of other bands, the rest of the members simply perform it. I think that was the case on the debut album, and it might be the case here, too, but the songwriting on this album is masterful. This band not only knows their way around a hook, like I said, but the guitarwork is utterly fantastic, and their way of balancing the heavier moments with the catchier moments is insanely brilliant. It’s due in part of the guitarwork on the album, and how seamless these riffs weave in and out of different sounds, but I love how they get the balance of easycore down right. What’s cool, too, is the album switches things up. Some tracks are more pop-punk-focused, and you don’t really hear screaming (you might hear a breakdown or two, but that’s about it), but a few songs on here have more of a metalcore-leaning sound to them. You have the token acoustic song at the end, like I mentioned, but even that song has very intricate guitarwork and songwriting to it, so it’s not just your average or generic token acoustic track.

The last thing that I need to mention is the lyrics, and I’ve always loved the lyrical ability of this band, but this album is no exception. Settle Your Scores have always had a great way of being personal and relatable with their lyrics, as well as being mature with them, too. Songs like “Stuck In The Suburbs,” “On The Count Of Three,” “Zero Hour,” and “My Reason To Come Back Home,” as well as many more, are fantastic songs that have very interesting messages behind them. Hell, they don’t necessarily tackle new ideas, or things that other bands haven’t talked about before, but the way they talk about it is great. I mean, look at the song, “Stuck In The Suburbs,” and it’s unfortunately not about the plot of the Disney Channel Original Movie of the same name from 2004, but it’s about the idea of feeling like you’re stuck in the same place, while everyone else is up to bigger and better things. The idea itself isn’t necessarily new, but the way they approach is refreshing, interesting, and well-done, so I have to give them credit for it. Honestly, the whole album is just that – refreshing, interesting, and well-done. This album is very diverse, too, and it’s not every day that happens with an easycore / pop-punk album. This album is very much worth listening to, even though easycore is oddly more of a niche thing, despite how a lot of pop-punk fans also listen to metalcore. Do they not want them put together? I don’t know, but this album is absolutely wonderful. Better Luck Tomorrow is one of those albums you don’t want to sleep on if you’re a fan of this type of stuff. Easycore fans already know about this band, but I feel like this band could get huge in the pop-punk scene, especially since they’re signed now. I’ve been looking forward to this for the last two years, and it was all I wanted, plus a hell of a lot more, which is always the best feeling, honestly. It’s great when a band puts out a great album, and just when you’re not sure they can top it, they do it, anyway.

#settle your scores #the wilderness #sharptone records #better luck tomorrow #easycore #pop-punk #heavy pop-punk #for the win #we were sharks #carousel kings #across the atlantic #sink the ship #rock

[friendlyneighborhoodghost-blog]

Play Pretend.

How do i say something that’s been said a thousand times in a thousand ways?

I’m sick of feeling like this. Like im less than what i want to be. Like i’m “behind” in life. Like i’m existing instead of living. Everday is the same damn thing.

“Today is going to be my day. Ill get back on track and get everything under control”, “You got this. You’re strong, you matter”, “You’re meant for great things”

Daily affirmations. Four months now of these stupid fucking cliches and i still can’t get a single moment to myself without some voice in my head telling me its pointless.

I GRASP at lyrics looking for some semblance of ideals as to why im so unstable. I force myself to “relate” to songs that talk about depression and being sad and still i wake up every day looking for the lesson in living another day half-present in my own head.

I’ve learned to supress it. Like alot of my past traumas. But this one.. it seems to come back stronger every time.

I don’t eat. I don’t sleep. I don’t have hobbies. I have no goals, aspirations.

I’m sinking into nothing.

I’ve given up on hoping that my feet will ever hit the ground.

i can feel everything on the way down.

It’s the only thing i feel now.

I’m hollow. I’m cold. I’m empty and alone (que everyone saying “i’ve been there!”, “i know how that feels”.)

Yeah, no.

Let em sum up adhd real fast

You walk into a classroom. On the whiteboard is TONS of writing. Some of it is blue, some green. Some cursive, some not. Words are upside down, sideways, backwards. Some words are in different language. Theres doodles and squiggles and otehr lines and shapes scattered all around it.

Normally, you’d be able to discern from whats important and what isn’t within a few seconds. Igorne the different language, decypher what each color meant, focus on the necesary.

ADHD? you see all of that and have a fucking FIELD DAY.

Whats the red mean? why is that word backwards? Did we cover this material before? Does it matter if i don’t write it in that language? Upside down words? i wonder if i can wrte upside down. When was the last time i even used cursive? OH wait it was like, 3rd grade. man, 3rd grade was my least favorite grade. My classroom always smelled like mothballs. Just like my old neighbors shed. That shed was ruuuusty. OH shoot i need to update my tetanus shot FUCK has the teacher been talking this whole time? FUCK FUCK FUCK what did i miss? THERES MORE COLORS WHAT DO THEY MEAN

Basically that. Maybe not that exact thought process, but i don’t get to choose what i do or dont focus on.

My adhd manifests itself in a few ways that i’ve been able to pinpoint.

Music- I LOVE music. Its the one thing i know i can rely on when im bored, lonely, stressed, sad etc. I’ve spent months of my life writing music, listening to music, playing msic. I’ve taught myself how to play 8 instruments with a 9th on the way.

Art- i can draw for hours. I’ll skip meals and other hygenic things just to finish a piece.

being outside- sit me in a classroom, i lose focus four seconds in. I start doodling, my thoughts wander, i get restless. Put me outside with that homework in my hand and i’ll have it done in on time. I’ll hike on my own for hours, spend too much time climbing trees and assigning names to each critter i see.

Thats what is referred to as Hyperfocus.

Lets say at the beginning of each day you get 24 tokens. You spend each token on a specifc task that day. You spend a few tokens for driving, brushing teeth and other general stuff, budgeting (if you will) for the big tasks you need to do, Workm school, homework, cooking, cleaning. Each one requires 3-5 tokens persay. At the end of the day you might have some tokens left over, great!

Not me. Not adhd people. we’ll save our tokens meant for eating or homework on something like reading the same line in a text book four times, because we started day dreaming after the second word. We take double the amount of tokens to do mundane chores becasue we start, stop, start, stop, start again until hours have passed.

What i wouldn’t give to be able to stop this. Last week, i had 6 hours where i had no obligations. I coudl’ve done homework.

I spent all 6 hours re-organizing my spotify library. Why?

I HAVE NO FUCKING CLUE.

Do you see my struggle? (we’ll just stop doing that then?)

oh my god. You fixed me. All of my years hating myself for this behavior, its just? FIXED? WHY DIDNT I THINK OF THAT

thats not how it works. i have three whiteboards in the house. One a monthly planner, one a daily and one an hourly. I write on those sons a bitches daily and guess how much  get done?

I don’t like living like this.  I hate being so goddamn unpredictable even for myself. I can’t ever keep myself in line.

“But Frdnlyneighborhoodghost, ADHD isnt THAT bad”

You’re right! but ADHD+depression= LIVING HELL.

i can’t remember to take my meds. I forget to remind myself to calm down. I over think and over think and overthink my overthiking. I get off track o a negative thought and end up in a perpetual mindset of “whats the point then?”

i’ve tried seven medicatoins for ADHD and none of them have helped. I’ve tried almost everything for depreessoin. I’m sick of pretending i’m not the worn structure of the me i once was. I’m smiley, happy go lucky, im (as my coworker ashley calls me ) a hoot.

That’s not me though. Not really.

This morning, upon waking up late, the first thought i had was “wow can’t even wake up on time how pathetic can you be?”

Don’t get me wrong, i know i’m loved, I have hundreds of former students from ages 15 to 4 that smile ear to ear whenever i see them. I have friends i spend almost every weekend with since 8th grade. Family that would give me the shirtoff their back if i asked.

but what whats the point of me being here? i can’t get myself to thinkany other way.

I can’t keep going like this. i can’t play pretend anymore.

[astridstorm]

A Farewell to Summer

William Blake, the Sun at his Eastern Gate

We had a wonderful start to our year last Sunday, Banner Sunday, and if you weren’t here then, welcome back. There are a lot of new faces, a lot of new people to get to know. And I want to welcome back anyone who was visiting with us last week for the first time. This is a great church to be a part of.

If you can believe it, it is still summer, technically. Fall officially begins in exactly one week, September 23. Making this our last summer Sunday together. It doesn’t feel that way, and our Scripture readings at this time of the year definitely take a turn toward the more serious. But for those of us not quite ready to move on yet, there’s this holdout, Psalm 19, one of the most exuberant, joyous psalms in our Bible, widely considered one of the best. Anglican theologian C.S. Lewis considered it the best of all 150 psalms. He called it “the greatest poem in the Psalter and one of the greatest lyrics in the world.” Beethoven, Bach and Haydn have all set it to music. The first two verses of this Psalm are the basis for one of the movements in Haydn’s Creation Oratorio: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows his handiwork.” The choir will be singing that as today’s offertory anthem. There’s also an adaptation of it in our hymnal. It is one of the few hymns that has been in every single revision of the hymnal for almost 400 years.

This is a Psalm that deserves all these accolades. What many love best about it is its picture of creation: teeming with life, chatty, full of personality. This isn’t the fierce face of nature that we’re seeing down south right now, but the gentler side.

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows his handiwork.” The firmament, sometimes translated dome, or just sky, refers to the ancient belief that there was a dome covering the earth that would periodically open up and let in the rain. There’s a firmament in Genesis chapter 1. It’s a name that makes you take the sky seriously. It’s not just vapor and gas, but a firmament, a substantive thing. A dome.

Creation in this Psalm doesn’t seem to be in any way concerned that there are no human beings around. On the contrary. “One day tells its tale to another,” and “one night imparts knowledge to another.” My kids, 7 and 3, share a bedroom, and this verse where the days and nights talk to each other each night and each morning reminds me of their chatter between themselves after we say goodnight and close the door. It’s magical to hear them, their own words, their own life, apart from us. I almost wonder if the person who wrote this Psalm knew what that was like.

Nature talks. Its elements, “although they have no words or language, their sound has gone out into all the lands, their message to the ends of the earth.” One of the debates around the revision of our current prayer book (it’s scheduled to be revised by the year 2030. The last one was 1979) is its depiction of nature and our relationship to it. For example, one of the Eucharistic prayers declares us the “rulers of creation.” I doubt that will be in the next version. So much has happened since the last revision, so many discoveries made. We now know nature can talk. Birds communicate more than we used to think. Dolphins speak to one another.  I just read a piece in the paper where parrots barter tokens for food. How arrogant we’ve been not to think nature has a life and language apart from us. Even this Psalmist knew that when he wrote, more than 2000 years ago.

He saves the best part about creation for last, his description of the sun. “In the deep, [God] has set a pavilion for the sun; it comes forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber; it rejoices like a champion to run its course.” Of course we now know the sun doesn’t sleep in its pavilion each night. It keeps blazing, as we on the earth run our course around it. Still, I like this intimate picture of God setting up a tent for the sun, maybe turning down the sheets (I’m thinking this is a princely, middle Eastern tent). And then of the strong, youthful sun strutting each morning, doing a little victory dance like a groom on the day of his wedding. “It goes forth from the uttermost edge of the heavens and runs about to the end of it again.” There might be, behind this verse, an ancient hymn to the sun that this Psalm writer took and set within the framework of his own beliefs. The Psalms often appropriate bits and pieces of other religions. These authors were well read, and ecumenical.

And in the case of whoever wrote this Psalm, clearly in love with life, and creation. He (or she) respected it deeply. So much so that he imagines it without us. And it isn’t suffering for our absence.

After all that, we come into the picture. The Law of the Lord is perfect and revives the soul. The law of the Lord brings light to the eyes. Now, in the second half of the Psalm, we’re in the human realm, with its laws and commandments and customs -- made more beautiful by the Psalmist with this comparison of them to the natural world. But the Psalm isn’t quite the same after we come in, and you almost wonder if it’s all downhill from there. Are we the rulers of creation? Were we made at the climax of it, or was it just another day for God when we were formed from the dust? The Bible answers this both ways. Maybe we shouldn’t know which it is.

I believe it was Ash Wednesday two years ago that I you the story of a rabbi who kept two pieces of paper in his pocket; on one, he had written “remember that you are dust” and on the other “you are but a little lower than the angels.” Then he would pull the one or the other out of his pocket depending on which he needed: a little humbling, or a little confidence.

In the same way, there are the two parts of Psalm 19 to remind us of this strange yet comforting paradox of our relation to God:

We’re not that important.

We are entirely important.  

Amen.